The Running Life: Mother makes time for runs with her children

Jan. 18, 2013

Written by

Libby James

The running life

Master of records

Colorado Running Hall of Fame member Libby James ran a 1 hour, 45 minute, 56 second half marathon Jan. 12 at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, breaking the previous age group world record for women between the ages of 75-79. A Fort Collins resident, James, 76, smashed the previous record of 1:55:19 set in 2009 by Ginette Benard.

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Question: Can a 30-something mom with two small children, a husband who travels and a demanding full-time job maintain a satisfying running schedule?

“Yes,” says Erica Burr, who lives next door to me, “but you have to get creative.”

I’ve been watching Erica run for several years, from the time when Maddie, now 6, was in a stroller through part of a second pregnancy, and now with a second daughter, Isabelle, 14 months.

Active in volleyball, basketball and track during high school, Erica began to run regularly as a freshman at Northern Illinois University, and it has been an important part of her life ever since. She remembers midwest wind so strong she had to run backward to get home. A visit to Fort Collins with a friend during college and all the runners she saw in town made her decide to move west after graduation in 1997.

A degree in English and experience in web development landed her a marketing coordinator position at Hewlett Packard, where she met Chris, a software engineer. They married in 2002. In the days before Maddie arrived in 2006, Erica and Chris often trained and did races together.

“HP had showers on site, and in those days dirt roads surrounded the place. It was easy to get in a good run at noon,” Erica said.

For six months after Maddie was born, Erica ran pushing a regular stroller. “It didn’t work well,” she says. “A jogging stroller was the best investment I ever made. Maddie lived in it.”

When she got old enough to choose, Erica would offer Maddie, “a nap or a ride in the stroller.” She seldom chose to stay at home.

Erica has established a routine that allows her to run 20 miles a week, about half on the weekends. Because Chris is gone every other week, Erica hires a girl twice a week to come to her home about 6:45 a.m. Those days, weather permitting, she bikes to work at CSU, arriving by 7 a.m. and works until 3 p.m. The she bikes home, changes clothes, picks Maddie up at school and together they get Isabelle at day care and are off, with Erica running, Maddie on her bike and Isabelle in the stroller for four miles.

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“There have been times,” Erica said, “when Maddie balks. I explain that this is something she’s doing for me. It’s not a choice.” This summer Maddie ran her first 5K, struggling a little during the race but full of pride afterward.

“My dad has diabetes and is not in good shape,’’ Erica said. “I explain to Maddie that running will help to keep us both healthy.”

When the weather cooperates, Erica puts Isabelle to bed a little early so they can both get up in time for a run before work. Early morning is Erica’s favorite. “I love the quiet,” she said. “There’s nothing better than waking up and going for a run.”

Sometimes, she sneaks away from her job as assistant coordinator for CSU Academic Computing and Networking Services for a noon run. “No shower available, but I manage,” she said. “The important thing is getting in the run.”

During the past 40 years, Libby James has raced everything from a mile to marathons and has become old enough to hold some records as well as earn entry into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame.